The distribution of the gondwanine ostracod Rostrocytheridea Dingle: palaeozoogeographical implications

Abstract

The genus Rostrocytheridea is strictly gondwanine in its distribution and, in Argentina, is shown to be restricted to Patagonia. Of the six recorded Argentinian species, five are restricted to the southern part of South America: Rostrocytheridea opisthorhynchus nov. sp. (late Tithonian‐Berriasian), Rostrocytheridea sp. (Valanginian), Rostrocytheridea cerasmoderma nov. sp., Rostrocytheridea covuncoensis Musacchio (Hauterivian) and Rostrocytheridea? sp. (Campanian). One species, Rostrocytheridea ornata Brenner and Oertli, is of much wider distribution, occurring in the Neocomian of South Africa and the Hauterivian of central‐west Argentina. In Australia, the genus first appears in the Albian‐Cenomanian and ranges up to the Santonian with two species: Rostrocytheridea canaliculata Bate and Rostrocytheridea westraliensis (Chapman). The youngest record of the genus is R. hamiltonensis Fauth and Seeling from the Middle to Upper Campanian of the James Ross Basin, Antarctic Peninsula. The implications for intercontinental correlation and the reconstruction of palaeo‐migration routes are considered. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Taxonomy and Zoogeography of the Mesozoic Cytherurid Ostracoda From West‐central Argentina

“…Throughout the Tithonian–early Cretaceous interval the Cytheroidea retain their dominance; however, data on relative abundance of each family are not yet comprehensive available. Nine species of Cytheruridae have been recorded in this paper and five species of Rostrocytheridea (Cytherideidae) have been described by Ballent and Whatley (2007); studies on other genera, such as ‘ Sondagella ’ and allies by the authors are in progress.…”

“…This seaway corresponds to the commencement of the continental separation between Africa and South America (124 Ma), which created the South Atlantic and a small ocean basin off south‐east Africa (Natal Valley, see Dingle 1988) producing a Valanginian–Hauterivian influx of new species and an increase in population diversity. The coeval records of Procytherura brenneri, P. maculata and Eucytherura guillaumeae ( ex E. tuberculata Brenner and Oertli), as well as several species of Majungaella and Rostrocytheridea (Ballent et al 1998; Ballent and Whatley 2007) and foraminifers (Mcmillan 2003) in the Algoa Basin in South Africa and in the Neuquén Basin, western Argentina strongly support the existence of a southern Gondwana seaway.…”

Cretaceous–Lower Paleogene ostracods from the Pelotas Basin, Brazil

“…Pondoina is a genus characteristic of shallow and brackish waters (Dingle 1969). Rostrocytheridea is characteristic of coastal marine environments with warm water conditions (Ballent and Whatley 2007).…”